tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15222965.post4174073713786254976..comments2023-11-03T11:56:38.726-04:00Comments on the Seforim blog: Plagiarism, Halakhic Paradox, and the Malbim on KoheletDan Rabinowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11519934722728609504noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15222965.post-76999331696471211172013-07-14T10:26:32.219-04:002013-07-14T10:26:32.219-04:00Anybody who studies both the Acharonim and the Mis...Anybody who studies both the Acharonim and the Mishnah Berurah knows that approximately 95% of the text is lifted from one of three Acharonim, the Chayei Adom, the Graz or the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch. In his introduction to the Chofetz Chaim he explains why he does this. He believed that certain Rishonim and Acharonim were very powerful writers who practiced what they preached. He felt their words would make a far greater impression on the readers than anything he could write himself. Therefore, he used their words as much as possible, adding just connecting words or phrases.<br /><br />It has been said that this is the reason he did not write about the new (in his time) shailos like technology and electricity, since he did not have earlier sources that he could copy from. (It is extremely rare that the Chofetz Chaim quotes a contemporary source.)<br /><br />Another point is that very often when the Mishnah Berurah does not attribute a quote there are minor differences between the quote and the source. Sometimes these differences are designed to resolve the attacks of the later Acharonim on that opinion, other times they are done to shtim the words of an Acharon with other halachos as presented in the Mishnah Berurah that the author of the quote may not agree to . In Yeshiva we spend a lot of time analyzing these differences. There are other finer nuances as to why he does not attribute quotes.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15222965.post-51193494194550754582013-07-12T09:59:18.491-04:002013-07-12T09:59:18.491-04:00The reason that the M"B does not attribute th...The reason that the M"B does not attribute the quote to the RS"A is that it is NOT a quote from the RS"A! It is a quote from the writings of Zalmon Hena. (I believe the it is from an appendix to the Sharae Zimra.) Since the text appears in at least two places, the M"B attributes it to the "Latter Writers" plural.Shimon Reitnoreply@blogger.com